Residents rejoice as government eases restrictions
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa began easing one of the world’s strictest lockdowns on Friday, with runners and dogwalkers returning eagerly to the streets but not all wearing the face masks that are now mandatory in the country with Africa’s most coronavirus cases.
In Johannesburg, Cape Town and elsewhere, people took a breath of fall air and some headed to the malls to buy warm clothes for winter, which brings a new challenge in combating the virus: flu season.
South Africa has more than 5,600 cases of COVID19. On Friday, health workers, unions and civil society members protested outside one of the country’s bestknown hospitals, Chris Hani Baragwanath in Soweto, demanding personal protective equipment.
As the country eases down one notch to Level 4 restrictions, many businesses can resume limited operations. Mines, factories and agricultural businesses can restart work in phases, starting with only a third of employees. Restaurants may reopen for deliveries only.
People are now permitted to leave their homes for exercise between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. A night curfew is in place from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. Public transportation, including buses, can operate with restricted numbers of passengers. But the ban on domestic and international travel remains.
Even with the easing, sales of liquor and cigarettes remain banned, which some have criticized as puritanical. But health officials warn that smoking might exacerbate respiratory problems experienced with COVID19. The ban on alcohol sales has reduced brawls and traffic accidents, according to police.
Friday is Workers’ Day and ordinarily South Africa marks it with rallies by trade unions and political parties, but the gatherings were not possible this year.
Some workers still found the return of business enough reason to celebrate. “We were badly affected by the lockdown but fortunately we are open now. We had to listen to the leaders because this is a very difficult time,” said Cameron Elihaz, who owns a cellphone repair and accessories shop in Johannesburg.
According to officials, schools should reopen in phases starting June 1 with the first batch being Grade 7 and Grade 12 pupils, the oldest classes in primary and secondary schools, respectively. But teachers’ unions have protested, saying schools should not reopen until safe conditions can be assured.